Quirky fun murder mystery. Julliard trained man becomes homeless after battling from mental illness. He lives in a cave in a park in New York City, anQuirky fun murder mystery. Julliard trained man becomes homeless after battling from mental illness. He lives in a cave in a park in New York City, and one morning discovers a dead body near his lair. Wonderful descriptions of his perception vs. reality. My favorite scene details the movie he's watching on the television in his cave, only to jump to the fact that the television is defunct and inoperable. Part "Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time," and part "Confederacy of Dunces." A book I would not have found or read on my own, so hurray for bookclub!...more

5th grade Harper has a lot on her mind. Her dad left home, after arguing with her mom about his drinking. Harper, her younger brother Hem, and her mom5th grade Harper has a lot on her mind. Her dad left home, after arguing with her mom about his drinking. Harper, her younger brother Hem, and her mom are evicted from their apartment after not paying their rent. Things only seem to get worse. But Harper has always found comfort in her words. She's even named after her mom's favorite book, "To Kill A Mockingbird." So when a poetry competition comes up at school, Harper is confident she's got a shot at winning. But things don't go according to plan, when her family is forced to move. ...more

Whoa. Caroline lives with her dad in an elaborate shelter they created in the woods of Forest Park, in Portland, Oregon. Together, they have been liviWhoa. Caroline lives with her dad in an elaborate shelter they created in the woods of Forest Park, in Portland, Oregon. Together, they have been living off the grid for almost four years, blending in with their surroundings, growing food, and trying their best to go unnoticed. But one day a runner spots Caroline, and they are reported to the authorities and taken in for questioning. At thirteen years old, Caroline is wise beyond her years. Her father has homeschooled her, using encyclopedias, dictionaries, and a horse toy labeled with numbers for learning math. There are no signs of abuse, and the authorities attempt to keep them together, placing them in a temporary work/live situation on a local farm. But living inside isn't easy for either of them, and it's not long before they are back on the run, trying to escape the confines of traditional society.

This is based on a true story, and Peter Rock does a fabulous job of creating the setting, and sharing the freedom they felt while on their journey. Caroline narrates her thought processes, and her ability to relate to her father's PTSD is remarkable.

An excellent read-a-like for another who enjoyed Emma Donoghue's "Room."...more

There are all sorts of criminal acts mankind can commit. Most have their socially accepted forms of punishment that are delivered by our judicial systThere are all sorts of criminal acts mankind can commit. Most have their socially accepted forms of punishment that are delivered by our judicial system. But sex offenders are the lowest of the low. The young adult in this novel, known only as Kidd, is not allowed to live within 2,500 feet of where children might be (i.e schools, playgrounds, etc). Forced to wear an ankle monitoring device, the Kidd finds refuge under a causeway in Southern Florida. Here he comes to find his circumstances are not unique, as other sex offenders are forced to live in similar environments. His childhood was not idyllic, and his fascination with pornography at a young age, escalated quickly, resulting in his being charged and convicted of a heinous crime. But he doesn’t feel like an evil person, and he’s conflicted by his feelings. His inability to move forward, and make positive changes towards his future have him trapped in a state of limbo.

One day a university professor approaches the causeway and is looking to interview sex offenders. He and the Kidd strike up an unlikely relationship as he works on research understanding recidivism and the mindset of these perpetrators. The Kidd is wary of the Professor’s friendship, but accepts his advice and financial assistance. While navigating his own emotional strain, the Kidd realizes he must rely on his own moral compass to make future decisions....more

Heidi takes pity on a homeless, teenaged mother and takes her into her own home. To the shock of her husband and daughter, she tries to help Willow anHeidi takes pity on a homeless, teenaged mother and takes her into her own home. To the shock of her husband and daughter, she tries to help Willow and her infant daughter, Ruby. But Willow isn't opening up about her past, and Heidi's family is skeptical about the girl's intentions. Alternating points of view from Chris, Heidi's husband, Willow and Heidi herself illustrate a dangerous situation that no one sees coming.

The plot is decent, but I wasn't very emotionally involved with the characters. A fast read for those wanting a page turner....more

This is a fascinating look at our current society, especially pertaining to our work/life balance. Rutger Bregman is a political historian and author,This is a fascinating look at our current society, especially pertaining to our work/life balance. Rutger Bregman is a political historian and author, and his book was originally published in Europe, where it won literary acclaim. Years ago, many people predicted that with the advent of technology, humans would not have to work so hard, and machines would do the majority of the work. This would enable us to have much more leisure time. In fact, the opposite may have happened. Many more occupations have been created, including many jobs which are superfluous, and don’t contribute to the betterment of society. Numerous studies have proven that the less people work, the more productive their output. Overworked people don’t create any more, and tend to clog up creativity and ingenuity. Bregman includes a very interesting history on GDP, how it’s determined, what it measures, and what it leaves out. By relying on these statistics to gain insight on how our country is actually performing, can be misleading and inaccurate.I found Bregman’s argument for basic income exceptionally compelling. He defends that poor’s people number one issue is that they don’t have enough money, and by merely supplying them with adequate funds, a myriad of other issues simply disappear. When you consider the economic strain of the welfare state, and all the costs associated with dispensing the assistance, and all of the oversight, it’s actually more economically feasible to dole out cash, no strings attached. There have been numerous studies which have had much higher success rates. Fears about people squandering cash, or not managing the money well, are pretty much unfounded. People are so used to the welfare state, that it seems easier to continue the status quo. Included are lots of interesting studies, including some hosted by our own government, including Nixon’s administration. Bregman also argues that closed borders are one of the biggest discriminatory factors in our current world. Where you are born, not only dictate where you live, but where you can work and travel to and from. Your economic destiny is predetermined not by how hard you work, but by the economic conditions of your country, and its relationship to the rest of the world. This section has an interesting premise, but I felt it could be fleshed out more in another volume. This book poses a lot of questions about our current state of doing things, and if it’s really achieving the goals we set out to reach. Bregman argues there must be a better way of streamlining economic stimulus, making sure citizens are taken of, and making all of our lives more leisurely and enjoyable. I really found this book to be compelling and easily digestible. A modern day Thomas More for critical thinkers. ...more